It is 11pm and water is coming through your kitchen ceiling. It is Christmas morning and the boiler has stopped. It is Sunday afternoon and the toilet is blocked and will not stop running. Whatever has happened at your property, our emergency plumbers are available right now and we aim to be at your door within one hour.
We are based across the capital, not at a single depot. That is why we can reach most postcodes within the hour and actually mean it. Every van carries the parts and equipment to deal with the full range of plumbing emergencies, which is why 95% of jobs are fixed on the first visit. Call us now, speak to a real person, and get an engineer on the way.
No call-out fee · Price agreed before we start · 7 days a week including bank holidays
Emergency response
No call out fee
First-Time Fix Rate
Guarantee
*We aim to reach genuine emergencies within one hour anywhere in London, subject to engineer availability. If we cannot make it, we tell you when you call rather than leaving you waiting.
Every engineer verified
Trade body accredited
Your property protected
Qualified for mains water
Formally qualified engineers
why 0800 home fix
The difference between a good emergency plumber and a bad one shows up at the moment you need them most. A company with one depot in West London will struggle to reach Hackney in an hour on a Friday evening. A company that takes emergency calls but sub-contracts the work cannot guarantee who turns up or what they carry.
We built our emergency service differently. Our engineers live and work across London. The person who attends your job is employed by us, knows the area, carries Gas Safe registration, and has a van stocked with the parts most likely to be needed. When something goes wrong at your property, one call is all it takes.
WHAT COUNTS AS AN EMERGENCY
Not every plumbing problem needs an emergency visit, and we will always tell you honestly if yours does not. The situations below should be treated as urgent. Every hour that passes without action can mean more damage and a larger repair bill.
01
Water escaping under mains pressure inside a wall, ceiling or floor causes rapid structural damage. Turn off the mains stopcock immediately, then call us. Our engineers carry isolation valves and pipe sections for copper,
plastic and lead pipe types.
02
A major water leak affecting ceilings, walls, floors or electrical fittings needs urgent attention to prevent further damage. If possible, shut off the main water supply and take photographs for insurance purposes. We quickly locate and stop the leak while also providing guidance for any required insurance documentation.
03
A toilet that is overflowing or close to overflowing creates both a hygiene risk and potential water damage. Turn off the isolation valve behind the cistern and avoid flushing again. Our specialists use professional drain clearing equipment to remove the blockage safely without forcing it further into the pipework.
04
When wastewater backs up into sinks, baths, showers or kitchen areas and normal drainage has stopped completely, immediate action is required. Our drainage engineers use high-pressure water jetting equipment to clear stubborn blockages efficiently and restore proper flow during the initial visit whenever possible.
05
Losing all hot water or heating can quickly become an emergency, especially during winter or where vulnerable occupants are involved. Our engineers carry a range of common boiler components and pressure-related parts, allowing us to restore heating and hot water on the first visit in most cases.
06
During freezing weather, pipes in lofts, garages and other unheated spaces can freeze, expand and crack. If water stops flowing from taps while temperatures are below freezing, a frozen pipe is often the cause. Avoid using direct heat or open flames. Our engineers safely thaw frozen pipework, inspect for splits and restore water flow securely.
Many companies list a one-hour target. We meet it because our engineers are distributed across London rather than despatched from a single depot. If for any reason we cannot reach you within the hour, we call you straight away. You will not be left waiting and wondering.
A 95% first-time fix rate reflects the contents of the van, not a marketing claim. Our engineers carry replacement pipe sections, fittings, isolation valves, cistern components and common boiler parts. The vast majority of burst pipe repairs, blocked drains, hot water failures and overflowing toilet jobs are completed in one visit.
There is no call-out fee on top of the job cost. The first-hour rate covers the engineer’s time from arrival. Out-of-hours work carries a small uplift for evenings, weekends and bank holidays, which is stated when you call and confirmed before the engineer travels. No inflated emergency rates.
Every engineer who carries out gas-related work holds a current Gas Safe registration. You can ask to see the ID card before any work starts and verify it independently at GasSafeRegister.co.uk. We do not send an unregistered engineer to any job involving gas.
We attend emergency calls for homeowners, tenants, landlords, letting agents and commercial property managers. Our invoicing meets the requirements of most major letting agencies. Written reports are provided as standard after every job.
Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, Easter, a bank holiday Monday. There is no day of the year when we are not available for emergency plumbing calls. Our call centre answers every call personally, you will not reach a voicemail.
The people behind the service
When you call 0800 Homefix, a real named engineer attends your property. Every person on our London team is Gas Safe registered, NVQ qualified, DBS checked, and carries full ID. Here are some of the engineers who may attend your job.
8+ years experience · North, East & West London
With over 8 years of experience servicing North, East and West London, I specialise in locating hidden leaks quickly and accurately using non-invasive detection methods. As a fully Gas Safe Registered engineer with NVQ Level 3 qualifications, I focus on delivering reliable, professional solutions that minimise disruption and help customers avoid unnecessary damage and repair costs.
“I regularly find hidden leaks without removing tiles or floors—most customers are surprised how quickly we can locate the issue without damage.”
I specialise in boiler breakdowns and central heating systems, I enjoy solving complex faults and making sure systems are running safely and efficiently again, first time.
“In London properties, the most damaging leaks are the ones you can’t see. By the time a damp patch appears on a ceiling, the structural damage can already be significant. Finding it early – without demolition – is what this job is about.”
28+ years experience – London
“On an urgent call, the first thing I do is help the homeowner find and shut off the stopcock while I’m on my way. That one step stops the damage spreading and saves serious money. It only takes 10 minutes on the phone.”
What to expect
Every engineer arrives with a fully stocked van, carries Gas Safe ID you can inspect, and introduces themselves by name before entering your property. They explain what they have found and what the fix involves before starting any work – and they leave your property clean and tidy when they are done.
All engineers carry Gas Safe ID and are DBS checked. You can verify any engineer’s Gas Safe registration independently at gassaferegister.co.uk before work begins.
our services
Our emergency plumbers handle the full range of urgent plumbing situations across residential and commercial properties. Here is how we approach the most common jobs.
01
A burst pipe is one of the most destructive plumbing emergencies because water escaping under mains pressure causes damage within minutes. The pipe does not have to be visibly split – a small failure inside a wall or under a floor can saturate a significant area before it shows at the surface.
Our engineers isolate the affected section first to stop the damage, then carry out a permanent repair using appropriate fittings for the pipe type. We test the system at operating pressure before leaving. Where the burst has caused ceiling or floor damage, we advise on the next steps for making good and any insurance claim process.
02
A drain blockage that has reached the point of backing up into the property – a kitchen sink that will not clear, a shower pooling at ankle depth, a bath backing up every time it is used – needs professional clearing, not a bottle of drain cleaner.
We use high-pressure water jetting to clear blockages completely rather than partially shifting them. For serious or recurring drainage problems we also carry CCTV equipment to identify the cause and location before treatment. We do not use chemical solutions that can damage pipework over time.
03
A complete loss of hot water is one of the most common emergency calls we receive. The cause varies significantly – a failed diverter valve or pressure issue in a combi boiler, a blown immersion heater in a cylinder system, a stuck motorised valve, a failed PCB. Our engineers diagnose the cause and carry the most common replacement components for a same-visit repair.
James Emmerson, our heating specialist, is G3 certified for unvented hot water systems. If your property has a pressurised cylinder system and has lost hot water or is showing a pressure fault, he has the qualifications and parts to address it on the same visit.
04
A toilet that will not clear, that is running continuously, or that is at immediate risk of overflowing needs urgent attention. We clear toilet blockages using professional equipment rather than chemical treatments. Where the blockage has passed further into the waste system, we trace and clear from that point. We do not charge a premium over our standard rate for toilet emergencies.
05
A mains stopcock that will not close is one of the most underestimated plumbing emergencies. It means you have no way to stop water flow in the event of a burst pipe or major leak anywhere in the property. This is particularly common in older London properties where the original stopcock has not been operated in years and has seized.
We replace faulty stopcocks and isolation valves and test the new valve under pressure before leaving. We also advise the homeowner on where all isolation points are in the property.
PRICING
There is no call out fee. The first hour covers the engineer’s travel, arrival and the first hour of work at your property. If the job is not resolved within that hour, any further work is quoted and agreed with you in advance before it goes ahead. Parts required for the repair are charged at trade rates and listed separately on your invoice.
Mon to Fri, 8am to 6pm. First-hour rate from arrival covers travel and initial work. Most standard repairs completed within 1 to 2 hours.
The first-hour rate covers the engineer’s time from arrival. No separate call-out charge on top.
Nothing starts without your agreement on the rate.
A small uplift applies to evenings, weekends and bank holidays. Stated clearly when you call and confirmed before the engineer travels.
Charged at trade rates, listed separately on your invoice. Where specialist parts are not on the van, we source locally and aim to complete the job the same day.
Our full rate card is available on our Rates page. You can see the standard hourly rate, the out-of-hours uplift and the policy on parts before you pick up the phone. No surprises.
LANDLORD & TENANT
A plumbing emergency in a tenanted property puts you under pressure from two directions at once – the tenant expecting fast action and the insurer expecting proper documentation. Our service is built to handle both.
We respond within the hour, carry out the repair, and provide a written job report in a format suitable for your letting agent or property management company. We can invoice directly to the managing agent where required. If the emergency involves a leak that may relate to an insurance claim, we advise on the documentation needed before leaving.
If you have a plumbing emergency in a rented property, your first call should be to your landlord or managing agent. They are responsible for arranging emergency repairs and the cost. However, if there is a risk of immediate water damage – an overflowing toilet, a burst pipe, a leak near electrics – you should act to minimise the damage while waiting for them to respond.
Call us if you are dealing with a genuine emergency and cannot reach your landlord or managing agent. We will attend, carry out the repair, and invoice the landlord directly where we have their contact details.
INSURANCE SUPPORT
Many homeowners do not realise that their buildings insurance policy may cover the cost of dealing with a burst pipe or major water leak, not just the physical repair but the damage to floors, walls, ceilings and decoration caused by the escaped water.
For an insurance claim to succeed after a plumbing emergency, your insurer will typically need documentation showing the cause of the damage, when it occurred and what repair was carried out. Our engineers provide a written job report after every callout that includes this information.
Where a hidden leak is involved – a pipe inside a wall or under a floor – your insurer may also require a formal trace and access report. If that applies to your situation, we can carry out both the emergency repair and the trace and access investigation in the same visit and produce the appropriate documentation. See our dedicated Trace and Access page for more detail.
If you are unsure whether your insurance covers the repair, call your insurer before authorising any making-good work. The repair itself we always carry out promptly – stopping the damage is the priority. The insurance claim is a separate process that we can advise on but cannot manage on your behalf.
Customer reviews
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FAQ
Some Questions homeowners, landlords, and tenants typically ask before booking one of our plumbers in London.
We aim to be at your door within one hour of your call for emergency plumbing situations. Our engineers are based throughout London rather than from a single location, which means we can reach most postcodes quickly. If for any reason we cannot reach you within the hour, we will tell you when you call rather than leaving you waiting.
There is no call-out fee. The first-hour rate covers the engineer’s travel time and the first hour of work at your property. Out-of-hours work carries a small uplift for evenings, weekends and bank holidays, which is explained clearly when you call. Nothing proceeds without your agreement on the rate. Visit our rates page for the full breakdown.
Yes. Every engineer who carries out gas-related work holds a current Gas Safe registration. Ask to see the ID card before any gas work begins, and verify the registration independently at GasSafeRegister.co.uk. We do not send an unregistered engineer to any gas-related job.
If you have a burst pipe or major leak, locate and turn off your mains water supply at the stopcock – usually under the kitchen sink or near the front door. Call us if you cannot find it and we will talk you through it. If water is near electrical sockets or fittings, turn off the electricity at the consumer unit. If you have a blocked toilet, do not flush again. If you can smell gas, leave the property and call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999 immediately before calling us.
Yes. We attend emergency callouts for restaurants, offices, retail premises, managed buildings, HMOs and letting agency properties across London. Response times and standards are the same for commercial as residential. We provide written reports and invoices in the format required by most property management companies and letting agents.
Our first-time fix rate is 95%. Our vans carry parts and tools for the full range of standard emergency plumbing repairs. Burst pipe repairs, blocked drain clearances, hot water restorations and overflowing toilet fixes are completed on the first visit in the vast majority of cases. Where a fault requires specialist parts not available on the van, we will source them locally and aim to return the same day.
There is a small out-of-hours uplift for evening, weekend and bank holiday callouts. This is not an inflated emergency surcharge. It is a modest adjustment for the out-of-hours nature of the call. The applicable rate is stated when you call and confirmed by the engineer before any work starts. We do not increase prices because of the urgency of your situation.
Burst or split pipes causing active water damage. Blocked toilets at immediate risk of overflowing. Complete loss of hot water or heating, particularly with vulnerable occupants or during cold weather. Severe drain blockages causing water to back up into the property. Frozen pipes at risk of splitting. Water leaks near electrical fittings or consumer units. Faulty stopcocks that will not close. Complete loss of mains water supply to the property.
Our plumbers in London operate across all Greater London boroughs and areas within the M25. We have engineers based throughout the city so response times are fast wherever you are.
Barking & Dagenham, Hackney, Havering, Newham, Redbridge, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest
Brent, Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham, Harrow, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Richmond upon Thames
Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Haringey, Islington
Bromley, Croydon, Greenwich, Lambeth, Lewisham, Merton, Southwark, Sutton, Wandsworth
City of London, Kensington & Chelsea, Westminster
St Albans, Hemel Hempstead, Stevenage, (London North crossover)
Dartford, Medway, Tonbridge, Canterbury
Guildford, Kingston upon Thames, Redhill
Slough, Reading, Oxford
Brighton, Portsmouth, Southampton
Vaillant boilers are reliable but can develop faults, either as a symptom like no hot water, cold radiators or dropping pressure, or as an F-code on the display. This page covers both: the most common Vaillant boiler problems and what causes them, then every Vaillant fault code we cover with a link to its full fix guide. Some clear with a reset or a pressure top-up; others need a Gas Safe engineer.
A boiler leaking water from underneath is almost always caused by one of four problems: the pressure relief valve releasing excess system pressure, a faulty or loose filling loop, a failed expansion vessel, or a pinhole leak in the heat exchanger or internal pipework. Most causes are not safe to fix yourself and need a Gas Safe registered engineer. Switch the boiler off, isolate the water supply if you can reach the isolation valves, and book a callout before any visible damage spreads to the wall, floor or electrics.
A high water bill with no visible leak usually means water is escaping from a buried supply pipe underground. Because it escapes into soil rather than onto a visible surface, there are no internal signs. The 30-minute water meter test below will confirm whether a leak is present.
Explore Services
Fast, reliable gas leak detection and professional repair services for homes.
Explore Services
Our team is available right now. No automated menus. A real person answers, takes the details of your emergency and has an engineer on the way. No call-out fee. 1-hour response. A proper fix, not a temporary patch.
Gas Safe Registered | 1-Hour Emergency Response | No Call-Out Fee
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